Victim offender mediation: Looking for creative solutions

Source: (2001) Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada: University of Regina, School of Human Justice.

In this paper Vanspauwen explores what he considers to be important themes or issues with respect to victim offender mediation. In this regard, he reviews the history of victim offender mediation, with emphasis on its recent sources in restorative justice and then its current status in Belgium. From this he considers the need for a paradigm shift in terms of a victimological point of view. Hence, he proposes a model for understanding victim offender mediation in terms of its restorativeness. Further, he offers a critical review of Belgian mediation practices and suggests creative solutions to mediation issues.